Stevia (a bonafide natural sweetener with zero cals) is really quite good! I bought several types of it and I absolutely thought it was the nastiest stuff ever until I realized I was using too much of it <grin>. I use both Stevia and Splenda.

Doesn't look like there will be a shortage for long, but I still don't agree that this stuff is healthy for you to consume. I found a new article for you guys today. Also, please feel free to post any articles you guys find too! This stuff is so interesting to me..

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregiste...4510292330.xml

Splenda in the news again:

plenda to Face Charges of False Advertising

http://www.legalnewswatch.com/news_570.html

A federal court in Los Angeles ruled on April 15 that the makers of the "No Calorie Sweetener" Splenda will face allegations that their marketing and advertising campaign is both false and misleading.

The lawsuit, filed by the Sugar Association in December 2004, wants to force McNeil Nutritionals and parent company Johnson & Johnson to change their alleged deceptive advertising practices. The Sugar Association claims McNeil has spent millions on a marketing and advertising campaign that has "mislead many Americans" into believing that "Splenda is as natural as sugar."

The Splenda web site says: "What makes SPLENDA Brand Sweetener an ideal no calorie sweetener?" is that it is "Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar." But the Sugar Association says different: "Splenda is a hydrocarbon containing chlorine; it is not sugar, and it is not natural. It is in fact an artificial chemical sweetener."

The success of Splenda in America has had a financial impact on the sugar industry. "It is clear that thousands of sugar growers in the United States are suffering financially because of consumer confusion thinking Splenda is natural," the Sugar Association said in a statement.

"The Splenda Lawsuit is about protecting profits; protecting profits is about protecting consumers from false advertising," said L. Mario Lozano, Legal News Watch editor.

That should be an interesting lawsuit to follow!

The thing IS though...I don't know about the 'many Americans' that the Sugar Association claims have been misled by Splenda's advertising, but personally, I've always classified Splenda, along with aspartame, saccharin, etc, as an "ARTIFICIAL sweetener", not a "natural artificial sweetener".

As I've said previously...what it comes down to IMO is this:

If you don't want to use Splenda (or Equal/Sweet N Low or for that matter, any other substance) then you have the right to not use it.

Likewise...those of us who want to use any artificial sweetener or what have you have every right to do so. It all comes down to PERSONAL CHOICES - again as I've previously stated, if the Powers that Be are going to continue to allow products that have been proven beyond all DOUBT to be harmful to remain on the market - such as tobacco products and alcohol - then they should leave Splenda alone! (IMO of course).

Yeah it definitely is an interesting lawsuit to follow. Strange that the makers of Splenda have been so quiet too? I definitely agree with you that it's everyone's choice on what to consume. But it's good to know if products are being questioned too Have a great weekend!

Wow it's really weird their making such a big deal about Splenda. Man they shouldn't drink water either. Cause there's all kinds of crazy looney things in tap water. Even a filter won't filter out the chlorine just the taste